Work near a listed building: do you need a permit in Portugal?

Independent site: we are not a public authority, and this is not legal or tax advice.

Building, extending, altering the outside of, or demolishing a building in the protection zone of a listed building needs a licence. The minor-works exemptions do not apply there, except for window frames.

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Answer

Licence

Covered

Construction, extension, exterior alteration and demolition in the protection zone of a listed or proposed-listed building (art 4(2)(d))

Exception

Replacing window frames to improve energy efficiency with an identical look stays exempt (art 6-A(1)(j))

Prior communication

Only after a favourable prior information (informação prévia) that covers all the required elements (art 4(4)(l))

Council rules

Your council can add detail in its own building regulation where the law lets it, so ask before you start.

Legal basis

RJUE art 4(2)(d), 4(4)(l) and 6-A(2), RJUE (Decreto-Lei 555/99) as republished in the Annex of Decreto-Lei 108/2026

Sources

data.dre.pt/eli/dec-lei/108/2026/05/29/p/dre/pt/pdf

Checked

2026-11-05